The Reminiscence Puzzle Book

Spanning the years 1930 to 1989, this puzzle book covers a mixture of events, people, entertainment and information about everyday life in the recent past. The book uses nostalgia and reminiscence in the form of quiz material to encourage memory recall and discussion in groupwork for the elderly.

Spanning the years 1930 to 1989, this is a highly practical and enjoyable puzzle book. It covers events, people, entertainment and everyday life and is designed to encourage group participation to recall and discuss their own personal experiences. It is fully adaptable according to the needs and abilities of the individuals within the group.

Care staff and voluntary workers in day centres and residential homes for elderly people have often expressed a need for a comprehensive, readable book to guide them through their first days and help them cope with any problems that may arise. This practical and imaginative handbook draws on the long experience of an occupational therapist working with elderly people in day centres. It provides a fund of advice on caring for people who may be frail, have communication difficulties or mobility problems. It describes how to design and organise a centre, how to use mobility aids and handle wheelchairs, how to move old people and adjust their hearing aids. The author even explains how to repair a wheelchair in an emergency. The second part of the book describes a huge range of stimulating activities, from craftwork and games to cookery, music and gardening, outings and exchanging reminiscences. Old people left with nothing to do rapidly lose their mental agility and interest in life. With a little encouragement, despite any disabilities, they can continue to acquire new interests and play a useful role in the community, and the materials and resources needed will often be donated or acquired very cheaply. The fully updated second edition is copiously illustrated with practical line drawings, and there is an extensive appendix providing useful addresses, helpful books and a listing of some of the conditions that may affect elderly people.

Writing Life Histories is a practical handbook which gives clear guidance on how to put together life histories in supportive or residential settings. It provides: step-by-step guidance ideas for different types of life histories activities, strategies and material for prompting memories helpful tools and writing tips suggestions for support and forming partnerships with other local services ideas for involving the person's family and friends discussion on ethical issues to be considered. The benefits of engaging a group or an individual in life history activities include: an aid to memory creative stimulation a personalised identity when in a residential home promotion of interaction and co-operation with others continuity with previous life experience thus combating loss of identity as well as an excellent opportunity to pass on knowledge and experience to others. For staff knowing about past experiences will promote an understanding of behaviour, needs and outlook on life resulting in more personalised care. Staff have references for conversation with cognitive impaired individuals and knowledge about life accomplishments which promotes respect for individuals. This is an indispensible resource for anyone interested in compiling life histories including nurses, residential home staff, carers, tutors and occupational therapists, group facilitators in day centres, clubs for the elderly or learning disabilities.

Hb published November 1991 has sold 512 copies at £50 Latest research on intervention of dementia

This wonderfully practical handbook features 80 adaptable and photocopiable games for uses with older people, as well as individuals or groups of all ages. The games can be used as part of a social activities programme, specifically for reminiscence purposes, to help keep people orientated to the world around them, to exercise memory skills or as the prelude to discussion, so that individuals can share difficulties and explore methods of aiding memory.

With a key theme for every week of the year, this resource contains extended multi-sensory reminiscence group session plans for older adults. Written by experienced occupational therapists, it provides detailed session plans for running successful and therapeutically-valuable activities within group sessions, from remembering school days to celebrating the natural wonders of the British Isles. Each plan has been developed to be suitable for people with a variety of abilities, including for those with dementia, and help to support memory, sensory function, confidence, communication, connection, as well as overall physical and emotional wellbeing. Activities range from cognitive activities such as word games, food tasting, music and poetry to group discussions. Session plans are accompanied by downloadable colour photographs and word cards to be used as tools for discussion.